Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Around Our Town | Verrill Farm in Concord, Ma

When we moved to Concord, I first stopped in when I saw a sign that read, "Heirloom Tomato Seedlings - Order Today." I thought, I'm going to really like this place. After I placed my order, I looked around a bit - cranberry orange scones, chunky applesauce, homemade brownies, crunchy asian noodle salad, real mac n'cheese, chicken pot pies... it was like the Barefoot Contessa cookbooks come to life. Then I thought, I'm going to love this place.

Verrill Farm is less than 2 miles from our house - it is a produce farm, local market, bakery, breakfast spot, lunch spot with delicious prepared foods and local products. If I'm ever at a loss for dinner, I head there for inspiration - or to pick up something already made like a container of roasted tomato basil Bisque, a fresh baguette and two homemade chocolate puddings "To Go."

I try to shop here on a daily basis instead of the 'local' grocery store - that happens to be not so 'local' at all. Shopping here everyday encourages me to cook seasonally, locally and fresh(ly?). I find myself branching out and adding kale to our veggie soup, using more fresh herbs and trying different varieties of local cheeses.

Surprisingly, shopping here does not cost me more money than if I had been shopping at the regular grocery store. The produce is shockingly less expensive (and much higher quality).

Many (in fact, most during the growing seasons) of the the produce boasts the "Our Own" tags like the spinach pictured to the left.

Bread from 4 or 5 different local bakeries... and there is no short supply of Nutella. I haven't crossed over to the natural and/or organic peanut butter yet - I just can't do it. I've tried. I have to have the added sugar and deliciousness of JIF extra crunchy.

The huge selection of scones might be my favorite thing of all at Verrill... especially the cranberry orange scones. I'll be attempting to replicate them later this week from KC - because I'm missing them!

11 comments:

We have a local place 1/2 mile from our home in Maine. I should stop there daily...good idea. Every time I do go, I appreciate the quality, variety and that it's keeping business local to home. There's something oh so cozy about your neighborhood farm stand, isn't there?!

Jenny - I've been meaning to tell you that we're neighbors...I first found your blog through Wms-Sonoma and then when I saw pictures of Concord I realized you live here too! I also am a Midwest transplant - moved from Minnesota 6 years ago. We didn't start out in MA in Concord (an interesting story) but once we discovered it, we moved here as fast as we could - isn't this the most wonderful place to live? I know it's not "home", but it's a great second place! Just walking the dog through town yesterday and stopping in the Cheese Shop is enough to put a smile on anyone's face :)

I just came across your blog, because I like the header so much, to click on it. And I wasn't disappointed. Everything is so nicely presented and fits together, everything is like I imagined new england to be after watching too many episodes of gilmore girls!:) I love the fall special, too. Very inspiring ideas. and you have such a nice and sympathic air about you (does one say it like that...I'm not a native speaker^^)Best wishes from Germany,Penny